The price of staining staircase structures is sometimes very high, so many decide to carry out this procedure with their own hands. The high cost of such work is due to serious technological requirements that must be strictly observed during painting.
In this case, the result will be durable.
Why stairs should be painted
Just once is enough to gain undeniable experience in this area. And already in time, when the stairs will require restoration its coverage, and it will not be difficult for you to perform these works. In addition, the process of choosing the right shade of paint and varnish is very exciting and will not take much time and effort from you.
External factors negatively influence wooden and metal stairs.
If this effect is prolonged, then the ladder structure can quickly deteriorate:
- Constant walking on the steps and holding a person by the handrails of the product affects the state of these structural elements: the steps are erased and dirty, and scratches and stains appear on the handrails.
Note!
Stairways should be covered with a topcoat especially carefully.
How you paint the stairs will determine the duration of its use without restoration work.
- It is also worth considering that even a structure placed in a house is exposed to changes in the level of humidity and temperature, which cannot but affect its condition after a while. For example, direct sunlight can dry out the steps of the stairs, so these elements of the product must be protected from drying out.
Choosing a quality coating
If you are thinking about what to paint the stairs in the house, then the following information will not be superfluous.
An important point when choosing a staircase is:
- the species of wood from which it was constructed;
- wood color;
- features of the product design.
For example, pine can release resins that significantly impair the adhesion of the material to the paintwork. This does not happen with larch trees.
Also, the complexity of dyeing needles is that it absorbs the liquid part of the paintwork rather heterogeneously. Therefore, the instructions for applying paints and varnishes to such a surface say that at least 2-3 layers must be applied.
Dye
When choosing how to paint a metal staircase or wood product, you need to try to choose such a shade of paint in order to get as close as possible to the natural look of the structure.
After you decide on the color of the paint, you can proceed to the choice of its type:
- If the staircase is located in the house, and you are thinking what is the best way to paint the staircase in the house, it is better to choose oil paint made on artificial linseed oil. Indeed, in this case, the negative factors affecting the product are much less, even when it is located on the street;
- In the case of an external structure, you will need paint exclusively on linseed oil of natural origin.
Advice!
Pigmented finishing materials are a good option.
They are able to hide the flaws in the design that appeared during the assembly process.
Do not forget, before applying such a coating, stair defects can be putty. However, it can also hide some of the benefits of the tree structure.
Experts advise to purchase Tikkurila Empire alkyd paint, because it can be used to cover the surface with a brush without unnecessary difficulties. The paint for wooden products (stairs, including) of the Betolux and Pesto brands is also of high quality. They lie flat and do not leave smudges.
For example, Betolux urethane-alkyd paint is suitable for already painted surfaces, but it does not differ in high wear resistance with constant use, therefore it is not used in crowded rooms. And Pesto alkyd paint is more durable, so it is used even in damp rooms that need to be washed often (an example is a nursery).
Lucky
When looking for an answer to the question of how to paint a staircase, experts will answer: "Colorless varnish!" Indeed, it is good because it does not mask, but, on the contrary, emphasizes the woody texture.
It also dries almost instantly and is easy to use.
Varnishes can be made with the addition of alcohol or nitrocellulose;
- The first option is a resin dissolved in an organic solvent... It is used only when the staircase is located in the house, because when such a coating hardens, an insufficient frost and moisture resistant film is formed;
- If it is necessary to paint the structure outdoors, you will need to use a nitrocellulose coating... It contains substances such as colloxylin and plasticizers that can significantly harden the coating.
The highest quality brands of paints and varnishes Parade and Trae Lyx are considered.
The products of the German manufacturer Parade are characterized by:
- special resistance to wear;
- ease of use;
- the ability to dry instantly;
- it does not have an unpleasant odor, which is often found in products from other manufacturers.
Also, experts recommend the Dutch Trae Lyx varnishes. In terms of strength and wear resistance, they are in no way inferior to their German counterparts.
The solid part of their composition is 35%, which determines their use for painting staircase structures in public buildings.
This material has several advantages:
- colorless;
- lies flat on the surface to be painted;
- does not change the degree of its gloss.
However, it has one significant drawback: it takes quite a long time for such a coating to dry completely. It will be realistic to use the ladder after staining with such a tool in a week.
Polishes
How to paint a staircase in a house to make it look complete? To do this, after staining, the product is covered with varnish. Then it sparkles and shimmers in the sun.
The color of the material should match the color of the wood, and not darken it. And they apply the coating with a brush or rags, having previously cleaned the surface.
Enamels
To make the lifting structure an unusual accent in the entire interior, think about how to decorate the stairs in the house. To do this, you can use enamel. This material is able to give the stairs the necessary shade, and at the same time, protect the product from destructive factors.
Enamel is a gel-like substance - a mixture of colorless varnish and pigment, which is sprayed over the surface with an aerosol. Before use, the product is well stirred by shaking, and it turns into a liquid.
Experts say that Italian-made Sirca enamel is characterized by excellent properties. The Swedish products of the Synteko brand are of good quality. It is as environmentally friendly as possible due to the fact that it does not use NMP polymers, which are especially harmful to human and domestic animal health.
Impregnations
Impregnations like wood stains or Pinotex have an antiseptic and fire-repellent effect. On top of such a product, you can apply a layer of any finishing varnish.
Experts recommend using oil or wax impregnations for working with wood. It is allowed to apply such a product in 2-3 layers, since the process of its absorption takes some time.
Dyeing technology
Staining the stairs is done in several stages:
- Preparatory. To begin with, the surface will need to be leveled by filling and sanding. After that, you need to apply a primer solution twice on it;
- Coloring. The staircase painting process takes place in 2-3 layers. Moreover, a new layer of paint is applied along the grain of the tree.
And this can be done only when the previous layer has dried, which must be applied across the wooden fibers;
- Opening with varnish. Varnish is applied to the wood using a spray gun when it is required to paint wide parts of the staircase, and with a thin brush for narrow staircase elements.
The surface is preliminarily cleaned and polished. If there are any visible defects, you can use wood-colored putty. (see also article Pine stairs painting: choice of paints and varnishes and technology)
Output
We told the instructions for painting the stairs and the materials that can be used in this case. We hope that this information will be useful to you, and you will be able to independently choose a suitable paint and paint yourself. In the video presented in this article, you will find additional information on this topic.
